equalityfan
Dec 28, 2011
Essays / "Are mothers better parents than fathers" - debate the essay topic? [6]
Dont be fooled by any claims that Females are better parents based on sex. Even leading feminists denounce essentialism. The issue of mothers and fathers as parents is often hijacked by industry who, pre-industrial revolution, needed men to work as women would miscarry if they had to perform manual labor. Post industrial revolution life expectancy increased with technology and advanced medical care. Taking men away from the family and leaving females alone was the deterrent for women not to have children and thus lower the population and be an active part of the work force. This action lead to single mother families and the ideal that mothers were better parents was pushed.
Dr Warren Farrell has written extensively on this topic. Interestingly he points out that children learn their sensitivities from their fathers. Fathers are also quoted to be more fair than women and single mothered families often end with one child more fair than others. This added to the fact that women hold the views that girls are vastly different to boys has lead to boys being victimised prompting Dr Farrell to give a series of lectures about the "Poor Boy" syndrome. Also the notion that women multi task and therefore are better at raising a child whilst running a household, is only half the statement. Women may multi task better but men are calmer under pressure. In cases where there are many things to be done, men are often better to deal with the situation because of their cool heads.
Mothers in two parent households are often quoted to have less of an ego and therefore be better at smoothing over tensions in the family. Thus their role to keep the family together is asserted. However, there is no scientific evidence for females having more or less of an ego than men. In fact in observations, women are often called "catty" due to their rivalries with other females. Also note that studies show 70% of domestic violence issues are instigated by the female, which contradicts the role of mothers holding the family together.
As an extra note, in some Islamic nations custody of the child always goes to the father after the teenage years begin as the fathers role is seen as more important at this point.
My personal view is that sex does not matter and humans are all different. We should move away from speaking of mothers v fathers and concentrate on being parents.
Hope this response is of use to you or anybody who wishes to write about this topic.
Dont be fooled by any claims that Females are better parents based on sex. Even leading feminists denounce essentialism. The issue of mothers and fathers as parents is often hijacked by industry who, pre-industrial revolution, needed men to work as women would miscarry if they had to perform manual labor. Post industrial revolution life expectancy increased with technology and advanced medical care. Taking men away from the family and leaving females alone was the deterrent for women not to have children and thus lower the population and be an active part of the work force. This action lead to single mother families and the ideal that mothers were better parents was pushed.
Dr Warren Farrell has written extensively on this topic. Interestingly he points out that children learn their sensitivities from their fathers. Fathers are also quoted to be more fair than women and single mothered families often end with one child more fair than others. This added to the fact that women hold the views that girls are vastly different to boys has lead to boys being victimised prompting Dr Farrell to give a series of lectures about the "Poor Boy" syndrome. Also the notion that women multi task and therefore are better at raising a child whilst running a household, is only half the statement. Women may multi task better but men are calmer under pressure. In cases where there are many things to be done, men are often better to deal with the situation because of their cool heads.
Mothers in two parent households are often quoted to have less of an ego and therefore be better at smoothing over tensions in the family. Thus their role to keep the family together is asserted. However, there is no scientific evidence for females having more or less of an ego than men. In fact in observations, women are often called "catty" due to their rivalries with other females. Also note that studies show 70% of domestic violence issues are instigated by the female, which contradicts the role of mothers holding the family together.
As an extra note, in some Islamic nations custody of the child always goes to the father after the teenage years begin as the fathers role is seen as more important at this point.
My personal view is that sex does not matter and humans are all different. We should move away from speaking of mothers v fathers and concentrate on being parents.
Hope this response is of use to you or anybody who wishes to write about this topic.
